Thread holder driven from take-up roll



Dec. 26, 1944.

,w. H. WAKEFIELD THREAD HOLDER DRIVEN FROM TAKE -UP ROLL Filed April 29,1944 ends and draw them between the gears. positive driving connectionsexist between the thread gears and the small roll it is desirablePatented Dec. 26, 1944 UNITED" STAT ES PATENT OFFICE THREAD HOLDERDRIVEN FROM TAKE-UP ROLL Walter H. Wakefield, Worcester, Mass., assignorto Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass., a corporation ofMassachusetts Application April 29, 1944, Serial No. 533,365

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in thread holder mechanisms forweft replenishing looms and it is the general object of the invention toprovide means by which a roughened or friction cloth engaging surface ofthe take-up velops in their weft ends and it is desirable to take upthisslackness to prevent the weft ends from being broken by the lay. Aform of thread holder for this purpose which has gone into general useemploys a pair of weft .end engaging gears which mesh with each otherand turn in such directions as to draw the weft ends away from thebobbin magazine and keep them taut- The thread gears should preferablyrotate at a slow rate and continuously throughout loom operation notonly for the purpose of taking up the aforesaid slackness, but also totake up any 2 slackness in the weft ends which results from rotation ofthe bobbins on their axes in the magazine caused by loom vibration.

The take-up roll of a loom generally operates at a slow rate which ismore or less proportional to the rate at which replenishing operationsoccur due to the relationship between the size of the weft, the numberof picks per inch in the fabric advanced by the take-up roll, and thefact that coarse yarn requires replenishment more frequently than doesfine yarn. It is an important object of my present invention to providedriving connections between the thread gears of the thread holder andthe take-up roll, the driving connections preferably including a smallroll held against the friction surface of the take-up roll and caused bythe latter to turn for the purpose of operating the driving connections.

The take-up roll is ordinarily mounted to rotate in bearings projectingforwardly from the front of the 100m, and when the take-up roll is inhigh position its bearings are mounted on the breast beam. It is afurther object of my present invention to mount the aforesaid small rollon the take-up roll bearing adjacent to the magazine in such manner thatit will be held against the take-up roll by resilient means which isyieldable to compensate for any irregularities in the surface of thetake-up roll.

After fresh bobbins have been placed in the magazine it is customary forthe operator to la;

the new weft ends over the thread gears and then spin or turn the lattermanually to tighten the When 'Payne No. 1,842,731.

that the latter be able temporarily to move out of driving relation withthe take-up roll to permit,

manual turning of the gears. It is another object of my invention toprovide a resilient or yielding mounting for the aforesaid small roll sothat the latter can move out of driving engagement with the take-up rollwhen acted upon by a rotary force transmitted through the drivingconnections from the thread gears when the latter are turned manually.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein a convenient embodiment of myinvention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is adiagrammatic plan view of a loom having my invention appliedthereto,

Fig.- 2 is an enlarged vertical section on line 2-2 of Fi 1,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section on line 5-5, Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, I have shown a weft replenishing 109mframe I!) having a breast beam H and a lay l2 which reciprocates under amagazine 'M which holds reserve bobbins B, four stacks of bobbins beingindicated in Fig. 1. From these reserve bobbins extend weft ends W to athread holder mechanism designated generally at H.

The loom includes in its construction cloth take-up means comprising aroll or cylinder l5 over which extends the fabric F being woven. Thetake-up roll in the present instance is in high position and issupported on bearings extending forwardly from the breast beam. In Figs.1, 2 and 3 one of thesebearings is shown at It with its bearing cap H toreceive the gudgeon l8 of the take-up roll. The latter is turned in thedirection of arrow (1., Fig. 2, during loom operation bywell-knownmechanism not shown.

The thread holder H has front and back meshing thread engaging gears orgeared members l9 and 20, respectively, which may be mounted on theholder as shown, for instance, in patent to It is thought sufiicient forthe present purposes to state that the gears l9 and 20 are caused torotate in such a direction as to tension the weft ends W which passdownwardly between them, and that these gears mesh with each other sothat the driving of one of them causes rotation of both.

The matter thus far described may be constructed and operated in theusual manner.

In carrying my present invention into effect I provide a train ofdriving connections or mech- ,2 I 2,865,667 l anism which transmits arotary force from the mounted thereon a clamp 6| through which thefriction or roughened cloth engaging surface 2| sheath 38 of theflexible shaft extends. The of the take-up roll 15 to the forward-- gearI! clamp 6| has two upwardlyextending arms 62 of the thread holder H."The surface -2| may be one of which is shown in Fig. 5. These arms madeof sandpaper, burred sheet metal, or the 5 are drawn together :by anysuitable means desiglike, and rotates about the axis of the take-upnated at 63 so that the sheath will be held tightly roll as the latterturns duringloom operation. ,to the support 50 by the clamp 6|. Thelatter to advance the cloth as it is woven. A stud 25 has a flange 65which may be secured in any apis screw threaded at 26 into bearing l6and is proved manner to the plate 60. The structure held in position bycheck nut 21. The stud-25 shown in Fig. 5 may be similar to that shownin is substantially parallel to the take-up roll and is my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 532,093,

located below and to the rear of the latter as filed April 4. indicatedin Fig. 2. In operation, the fabric F is moved forwardly The studextends beyond the adjacent end by rotation of the take-up roll I5 andthe latter of the take-up roll and has mounted thereon "a causes turningof the small roll 32 in a clocklever 28 the lower end of which'isprovided with wise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, thus turning a hub 29rotatable on the stud. Thelever exthe stub shaft 3| and core 36 of theflexible shaft tends upwardly and has a bearing 30 in which in such adirection as to cause thread gear l9 rotates a stub shaft 3|. That endof shaft 3| to-turn in the proper direction to tension the remote fromthe b'earinglfi has secured thereto weft ends W. As shown in Figs. 2 and3 the rotary means, such as a small friction roll 32, take-up roll I5 isapproximately two and onewhich is made of any suitable material havinghalf times the diameter of the roll 32, but I am preferably a rough ordeformable surface for not limited to this relationship, inasmuch as athe purpose of establishing frictional driving smaller roll can beemployed if it is desired to conditions with the take-uproll surface 2|so turn the thread gears l9 and 20 at a faster that the latter willcause rotation of the small rate. ,roll. Thus, the small roll 3211'133'be covered After placing fresh bobbins in the magazine it with felt,rubber, leather, sand, or like material, is customary for the operatorto turn the thread which will cooperate with the take-up roll surgearsmanually to tighten thenew weft ends and face to effect turning of ro530 draw them between the thread gears. If roll 32 That end of stubshaft 3| adjacent to the were on a fixed axis it would be held againstrobearing l8 projects beyond bearing and has tation by the take-up rolland prevent manual tapered screw threads 33 which receive a simturningof gears l9 and 20. Underusual runilarly tapped nut 34. The tapered endof the ning conditions the spring 39 holds the surface stub shaft issplit as at 35 so that tightening of of roll 32 against the take-uprollfirmly enough nut 34 Will clamp the split parts of the end of to pressthe sand or other projections on roll IS the stub shaft against the core36 of a. flexible against and in close engagement with the small shaftdesignated generallyat 31 and including in roll 32 to establish africtional driving contact its construction a sheath 38. The core 36 isthus between the rolls. When gears l9 and 20 are caused to rotateWhenevershaft 3| turns in the -Oturned manually at a rate faster thannormal a bearing 30. rotary force is transmitted back through the Inorder to insure engagement of the roll 32 flexible shaft 3'! to roll 32and the latter moves with the roughened surface 2| of the take-up aslight distance away from the take-up roll and roll I surround stud 25with a to sion Sp i g- 9 out of its previous close driving relation withhaving one end 40 thereof extending .into thug-' roll I 5. This slightmovement is permitted by hearing l6 and having the other end 4| thereofspring 39, but after the operator has completed extending into the hub.29 of leverv 28.. This turning of gears l9 and 2B, the spring againrespring tends normally to hold lever 28 to the stores normal drivingrelation between'the rolls. left as viewed in Figs. 2 and 4 to maintaindriv- From the foregoing it will be seen that I have ing connectionsbetween rolls l5 and .32. Hub; provided simple means by which the thread29 is held by the spring against a. collar 42 adgears 9 and 20 of thethread holder may be justably held to the inner end of stud 25 by meansdriven from the roughened or friction surface of of a set screw 43. Aclip formed as. indicated the cloth take-up roll of a loom. The train ofin Figs. 2 and 3 may be held to the breast beam driving connectionsbetween the take-up roll by means of a screw 45 and-extends around theand the thread gears includes a small roll held sheath 38 to hold thelatter to thebreastbeam. against the surface 2| of the take-up roll andThe flexible shaft extends as indicated in Fig. 1 caused to rotate bythe latter for the purpose f preferably through the magazine .M and hasits turning the core 36. of the flexible shaft. The outer end attachedto the front thread gear I9. latter in turn is connected to one of themesh- One manner of attaching the fieXi-bleshaft to ing thread gears andit is in this manner that gear I!) is indicated in Fig. 5. Thethreadholder the slow but continuous rotation of the take-up includes asupport Silhaving a bearing-5| in roll l5 causes uniform turning of thethread which rotates a short shaft .52 to the right end de ge r du 0operation to take up of which, see Fig. 5, the front thread engagislackness in the weft ends resulting either from ggar. 19 is Secured ina manner similar; t t t replenishing operations or rotation of thebobset forth in the aforesaid Payne patent. The biIlS- The Spring 39 a oy e s o per it ma ua left end of shaft 52 has atapered thread is turningof a s I 9 and 0 y t e operator when and is split as at 54. A nut 55liavin a tapered bobbins a p a d n t e ma azine.

thread fits around the tapered screw/threads 53 Having t d s i ed myinvention it will be and when tightened'forces the split endof shaftrioa c an es and modlficationsmal b 52 against the core 3fi of.the'flexibleshaft, the

made therein by those skilled in the art without core extending into theshaft 52 for this purpose. departing from the Spirit and Scope of thenve The core 36 is thus secured at .its twoendsby tion and I do not wishto be limitedto the desimilar means to the shafts 3| and 52, tailsherein disclosed, but what I claim is: v

A plate 60 secured to the support 50 113.3 15. 1. In a'weft replenishing'loom havinglres'erye bobbins from which weft ends extend, a clothtake-up roll having a friction surface rotating during loom operation,meshing geared members between which the weft ends extend and rotatableto tension the latter, rotary means engaging said friction surface androtated thereby as said surface rotates, and driving connections betweensaid rotary means and geared members causing the latter to rotate totension said weft ends whenthe rotaryln eans rotates:

2. In a weft replenishing loom having meshing thread gears rotatable totension the weft ends of reserve bobbins, cloth take-up means rotatingduring loom operation and having a friction surface turning therewith, aroll engaging said friction surface and caused thereby torotate as thetake-up means rotates, and driving connections between said roll andsaid thread gears causing the latter to turn to tension said weft endsas the roll is rotated by said friction surface.

3. In a weft replenishing loom having meshing thread gears rotatable totension the weft ends oif reserve bobbins, cloth take-up means having afriction surface rotating therewith during loom operation, face engagingsaid a roll having a friction surfriction surface of the takeup means,said friction surfaces cooperating to cause rotation of said roll as thetake-up means rotates, and driving connections between said roll andgears to rotate the latter to tension said weft ends as the take-upmeans rotates.

4. In a weft replenishing loom having meshing thread gears rotatable totension the weft ends of reserve bobbins, cloth take-up means having afriction surface rotating therewith during loom operation, a rollengaging and-rotated by said friction surface as the take-up meansrotates, and a flexible shaft connecting said roll to one of said threadgears to cause the latter to turn to tension said weft ends as said rollrotates.

5. In a weft replenishing loom havingmeshing thread gears rotatable totension the weft ends of reserve bobbins, cloth take-up means rotatingduring loom operation and having a friction surface turning therewith, alever pivoted with respect to the loom, a roll on said lever, meansacting on said lever holding said roll against said friction surface tocause the latter to rotate said roll as the take-up means rotates, anddriving connections between said roll and thread gears causing thelatter to turn to tension said'weft ends as the roll rotates.

6. In a weft replenishing 100m having meshing thread gears rotatable totension the weft ends of reserve bobbins, cloth take-up means having afriction surface, rotating therewith during loom operation, a leverpivoted with respectto the loom, a roll on said lever, means acting onsaid lever holding the roll against said friction surface to cause thelatter to rotate said roll as the take-up means rotates, and a flexibleshaft connecting said roll to one of said thread gears to cause thelatter to turn to tension said weft ends ,as said roll rotates.

7. In a weftreplenishing loom having meshing thread gears rotatable totension the weft ends of reserve bobbins, a cloth take-up cylinderhaving a friction surface rotating about the axis of said cylinder asthe latter rotates during loom operation, a bearing -for said take-upcylinder, a stud on said bearing parallel to the axis of said take-upcylinder, a lever pivoted on said stud, a roll rotatable on said lever,resilient means acting on said lever to hold the roll against saidfriction surface and causing the latter to rotate said roll as thetake-up cylinder rotates, and drivil'lg connections between said rolland gears causing the latter to turn to tension said weft ends as saidroll rotates.

8. In a weft replenishing loom having meshing thread gears rotatable totension the weft ends of reserve bobbins, a cloth take-up cylinderrotating during loom operation and having a friction surface turningtherewith about the axis of the cylinder, a bearing for said take-upcylinder, a stud. on said bearing parallel tothe axis of said take-upcylinder, a lever pivoted on said stud, a roll rotatable on said lever,resilient means acting on said lever to hold the roll against saidfriction surface to cause the latter to turn said roll as the take-upcylinder rotates, and a flexible shaft connecting said roll to one ofsaid thread gears to cause the latter to turn to tension said weft endsas said roll rotates.

9. In a weft replenishing loom having meshing thread gears rotatable totension the weft ends of reserve bobbins, a cloth take-up cylinderhaving a friction surface rotating about the axis of the cylinder duringloom operation, a bearing for said take-up cylinder, a stud on saidbearing parallel to the axis of said take-up cylinder, a lever pivotedon said stud, a roll rotatable on said lever, a, torsion springsurrounding said stud and connected to said bearing and lever and actingon the latter to hold the roll againstsaid friction surface, therebycausing the latter to turn said roll as the take-up cylinder rotates,and driving connections between said roll and gears causing the latterto turn to tension said weft ends as said roll rotates.

10. In a weft replenishing loom having meshing thread gearsrotatable totension weft ends of reserve bobbins, cloth take-up means rotatingduring loom operation and having a friction surface turning therewith, aroll engaging said friction surface, yieldable means normally holdingsaid roll in driving engagement with the friction surface to cause thelatter to turn the roll as the take-up means rotates, and drivingconnection between said roll and gears normally turning the latter totension said weft ends as the take-up means rotates, said. means beingcaused to yield to permit said roll to move out of driving engagementwith said friction Surface by a rotary force transmitted through saiddriving connections and permit said roll to turn independently of saidfriction surface when the gears are turned manually.

11. In a weft replenishing loom having meshing thread gears rotatable totension weft ends of reserve bobbins, cloth take-up means rotatingduring loom operation and having a friction surface turning therewith, aroll engaging said friction surface, yieldable means normally holdingsaid roll in driving engagement with the friction surface to cause thelatter to turn the roll as the take-up means rotates, a flexible shaftconnecting said roll to one of said gears and normally turning thelatter to tension said weft ends as the takeup means rotates, said meansbeing caused to yield to permit said roll to move out of drivingengagement with said friction surface by a rotary force transmittedthrough said flexible shaft and permit the roll to turn independently ofsaid friction surface when the gears are turned manu ally.

, WALTER H. WAKEFIELD.

